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Entrepreneurs are accustomed to setting goals. They tend to have
goals for revenue; for number of customers, clients or users; for
sales figures. But goals can be detrimental to long-term
progress, says James Clear, an entrepreneur, weightlifter and
photographer who writes about how to improve your work and
health. Once you reach a goal, that goal is no longer there to
motivate you. "When all of your hard work is focused on a
particular goal, what is left to push you forward after you
achieve it?" Clear asks.

Instead, focus on the process. Your goal might be a particular
sales number, while the systematic process of reaching that goal
involves particular marketing strategies, hiring patterns and
other actions you take every day. If you stay focused on the
process, or system, rather than the goal, you will remain
motivated no matter what the numbers look like. "Goals are about
the short-term result. Systems are about the long-term process,"
Clear says. "In the end, process always wins." More:
Forget
Setting Goals. Focus on This Instead.

Incorporate positive habits into your daily
routine.
As you begin to set goals and plan a routine for the new year,
start from a place of positivity. "Your brain is three times more
creative in a positive state," says Shawn Achor, the author of
The Happiness Advantage (Crown Business, 2010) and
Before Happiness (Crown Business, 2013). To ensure you
maintain your high despite the daily grind, devote some time each
day to a positive habit. Examples include meditating and writing
down things you've accomplished or things for which you're
grateful. Achor found that a test group of workers who engaged in
one of these positive habits for a couple of minutes a day over
21 consecutive days reported a higher level of job satisfaction,
greater job effectiveness and reduced stress. More:
4 Ways to
Get Into a Positive Mindset for the New Year

Consult your staff before making a new
hire.
You may think you know what's best for your staff when it comes
to adding new people, but you run a good chance of making a
mistake if you don't consult your employees first. If staff
members are telling you they need an extra body to help them with
the work load, then ask them to specify exactly how a new
employee would help, says Mark Feffer, the managing editor of
Dice News, which provides news and advice for job seekers. If
you're taking the initiative to hire someone new, first consult
your staff about its needs. And don't forget the personal
element. "Bringing in a developer may get your existing
developer's nose out of joint if he believes he's got everything
under control," Feffer says. "While his feelings may or may not
change your mind, consulting with all involved will help you
identify any challenges you'll have to address to keep everyone
happy and productive." More: Think You Need to
Hire? Think Again.

Provide yourself and employees with holiday
downtime.
It's a no-brainer that people perform best when their energy
level is high. For many people, the year is a marathon and the
winter holiday season is a necessary time to slow down and relax.
Managers should respond accordingly, easing up on demands and
giving employees a break, says Bob Marsh, chief executive of
LevelEleven, a Detroit-based software company that creates apps
to motivate workers. "Creating a comfortable and understanding
work environment is crucial for employee productivity," he says.
During the holiday season, try not to contact your employees
after working hours. You can try a little on-the-clock R&R
too. "Organize an office-wide coffee break on Friday afternoons
featuring staff-favorite seasonal blends, or provide an afternoon
off to make a dent in holiday shopping," says Marsh. "When you
respect them, you motivate them to give the best to you and the
company." More: 3 Ways to Keep Up
Productivity Over the Holidays

Resist the peer pressure to rise early.
If you are a natural early riser, more power to you. But if not,
it's better to listen to your body and work when you're most
alert and productive rather than to force an early start each
day. While some entrepreneurs and executives make getting up
before the sun a point of pride, others manage to build
successful businesses with saner hours. Athelia LeSueur, the
founder of New York-based clothing company Shabby Apple, calls
herself "a ferocious worker" despite getting 10 hours of sleep a
night. "An early day often starts at nine for me. Hip, hip for
sleeping in." More: Yes, You Can Sleep
In and Still Be Successful